BOCA RATON – An undercover Boca Raton police officer netted $8,000 worth of stolen fishing gear by posing as an interested buyer responding to an ad on Craig’s List.
It led to the arrest of Paul Anthony Sellers II, 45, of 1251 South Federal Highway, Boca Raton on a charge of dealing in stolen property.
Public Information Officer Mark Economou said that on Aug. 28, investigators from Boca Raton police received a call from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. They said they were investigating a burglary to a business in Port Canaveral during which 13 high end fishing poles valued at approximately $8,000 were taken. The detective from Brevard County said all the stolen property was listed for sale on Craig’s List and was possibly located in Boca Raton.
Boca Raton police detectives made contact with the seller, posing as a potential buyer. The seller, identified as Sellers, agreed to sell the undercover detective all of 
the fishing equipment for $2200. The undercover detective set up a time to meet with Sellers at his residence.
When he arrived, the undercover detective asked Sellers why he was selling expensive fishing gear for so little. Sellers told him he worked in the fishing industry and they were not used much anymore, Economou said.
Sellers then helped the undercover detective load the gear into his car. The detective then offered Sellers $2,000 for everything and Sellers agreed. The detective then identified himself as a police officer and arrested Sellers.